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Pets and the city: Which is right for you?

Matching a dog to one's eye color or couch is not the point of an apartment pet, says Oregon Humane Society behavioral specialist Lori Kirby.

Because every dog is different, it's difficult to say that any one breed is an ideal candidate for apartment or condo living. People who are considering adding a dog to their lives should honestly assess how much time they have to care for it, she says, and make sure to find a breed that suits their lifestyle or any possible changes in that lifestyle that might come.

If it's a slower-paced animal one seeks, Kirby notes that well-known couch potatoes are Irish wolfhounds, basset hounds and pugs. Beagles and greyhounds also make good apartment dogs.

High-energy border collies and most terriers, on the other hand, require a lot of activity.

For more information about adopting or caring for a pet, go to www.oregonhumane.org.